Labour Day weekend Shuswap boaters largely in compliance

Sicamous RCMP see a quiet Labour Day weekend, on land and on water.

Sicamous RCMP saw a quiet Labour Day weekend, on land and on water.

Sgt. Murray McNeil said local police responded to 24 calls for service over the weekend.

On Saturday, Sept. 3, police handed the driver of a Ford Mustang a $368 fine for excessive speeding and the vehicle was impounded for seven days at the driver’s expense. This was after police received a report of the vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed on Highway 97 near Kapppel Street. Investigating officers observed the vehicle travelling 119 kilometres an hour in a 60 km/h zone.

McNeil said Sicamous RCMP conducted patrols on Shuswap and Mara lakes on Saturday. Most of the boaters checked were found to be in full compliance with the small vessel regulations.

One SeaDoo operator was issued a warning for failing to keep watch of a towed water skier behind his vessel.

“Police had the operator return to shore,” said McNeil, adding the fine for this infraction, if it had been issued, is $287.

“The number of boats on the lakes this Labour Day weekend was lower than normal… due to weather,” added McNeil. “It was encouraging to see a high level of compliance with the safety regulations with the boaters that we checked.

“Every vessel had the required number of life-jackets onboard.”

 

Eagle Valley News